Rear Window

Alfred Hitchcock.  The images, memories, and references this name brings to mind are almost unmatched.  Even now he is still a household name.  However, while his name may be known, are his movies?  I had grown up hearing of Hitchcock, though my parents quoting him and his movies to my grandparents talking of their experiences while watching his films.  I however had never seen one.  Until now.  I decided to take a look at Mr. Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” and see for myself if he truly is the master of suspense.

The movie begins by the opening of the blinds of three windows from right to left.  We are then shown around five or six different people/couples, never staying on one for to long as to suggest that they are the main character.  We are then shown L. B. "Jeff" Jeffries (played by James Stewart) in a wheel chair.  It is later explain that he was injured by taking a dangerous photograph.  We learn that while he has been cooped up in is apartment he has taken to watching his neighbors, almost to the point of being obsessed with what ever they do.  The movie continues to introduce the other character in the story like his girlfriend Lisa Fremont (played by Grace Kelly), his insurance company home-care nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter), and the other people living beyond his rear window; Miss Lonelyheart, Miss Torso, the songwriter, several married couples, and most importantly Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr), a jewelry salesman with a bedridden wife. 

By now the stage has been set, the characters introduced, small conflicts established, and the audience is ready and waiting for things to begin.  And that they do.  In the night we see Jeff witness a possible murder.  I say possible because the blinds have been pulled and all we have heard is a single scream.  We watch Mr. Thorwald leave his apartment three times in the course of the night.  At this point in the movie I do not feel the suspense that I would have thought when watching a Hitchcock film.  On the contrary I am eager and curious as to whether or not Mr. Thorwald killed his wife. 

As the movie continues We hear Jeff try to convince not only Lisa of the murder that he is sure has taken place, but his friend a detective Tom Doyle (Wendell Corey).  I believe that these two characters are more important than just their relationship with Jeff.  Lisa believes Jeff in that a murder took place.  Tom on the other hand does not.  These two characters are important, not only so that there is a conflict, but they represent the split audience.  Some viewers will believe Jeff in that Mr. Thorwald killed his wife (Lisa) but others will not (Tom).  The audience also is able to have a choice in what side they want by listening to the arguments of both of these characters.  This was a very smart move, it makes the audience feel like they are in the room with the character taking sides and arguing why it is or is not possible.  Better still as the movie progresses we see how certain blind spots, the wall between the windows, at first don’t mean much but latter this small blind spot can make the audience sit on the edge of their seat.

Better still even if you thought Mr. Thorwald was innocent the entire time, even after his fight with Lisa, you can not help but feel fearful for Jeff’s life at the climax scene.  Jeff’s apartment is completely black and he is alone.  Then when Mr. Thorwald comes though his door he is wrapped in darkness.  Completely covered save for his eyes.  Even I, who believed Mr. Thorwald was innocent though out the entire movie to this point had my heart pounding so hard for fear of Jeff’s life I would not have been surprised if it had burst out of my chest.

This movie is extraordinary.  From the sets, to the lighting, to near miss able details that make the audience feel included in this adventure, every detail comes together to make near impossible to breath near the end.  Hitchcock truly made a marvelous movie in “Rear Window” and it must be watched.